Valve structure



sept. 1, 1942. W A RAY 2,294,421

VALVE STRUCTURE Filed March 26, 1940 |NVENTOR,

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l FOY' j ATTOIQlEY Patented Sept. l, 1942 unire stares Ara This invention relates to valves, and more particularly to valves that are to be opened bythe aid of an electromagnet against the pressure of the fluid controlled by the valve.

In many uid control installations, the avail# able electric power for operating the valve is very small. For example, in safety systems for supplying an explosivefuel, such as gas, to a burner, the valve-is caused to open in response to the generation of current by the aid of a thermopile affected by the heat of the main or pilot burner. It has been common to operate a sensitive relay by the thermocurrent, and thus indirectly cause energization of a relatively powerful electromagnet for operating the valve closure.

By the aid of the present invention, the necessity of utilizing an intermediate relay is obviated; instead, the weak thermocurrent may be caused directly to operate the closure member against the uid pressure.

It is accordingly one of the objects of.this\ invention to make it possible to accomplish these results.

It'is still another object of the invention to provide ,a compactfand inexpensive valve of this character.

'In the construction of the valve in accordance with this invention, the number of moving parts is reduced to a single one-the valve closurewhich is furthermore so arranged that the fitting of it in the valve is a very simple matter. More specifically, the closure is in the form of a loosely mounted disk, requiring accurate machining only insofar as its surfaces are concerned, and obviating the need of bearings or levers or the like.

'I'his invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this I detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 ,is an axial section through a valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view as seen on plane 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to' Fig. 1 showing the valve partly opened, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 of a modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the valve comprises a body i arranged to form an inlet chamber t provided with an inlet opening 3.- The body i also has an outlet opening d, separated from the chamber 2 by partition The partition may be formed in body i in any convenient way. As shown, the partition 5 is formed by the end wail of a hollow plug t which is threadedly secured in the lower endl of body I as indicated at A- suitable gasket or packing t is provided to prevent leakage from the inlet chamber 2. Outlet I is formedy in the plug and is shown as having threads for receiving a conducting pipe 9 which carries the fluid to the place where it is to be used. Inlet 3 is similarly arranged for threaded connection to a pipe or conduit I0 leading from the source of fluid supply. vPassage of uid from the inlet -3 to outlet 4 is permitted by a port i2 which extends through partition 5; port I2 being controlled by a closure member I3. l

Closure member I3 is a plain disk of magnetic material, loosely mounted upon partition 5. It

is adapted to close port I2 in response to gravity, that is, it is arranged to drop to closing position by its own weight. Means are provided for lifting and maintaining the member above the port, so that fluid can pass freely through it.

Obviously, to lift the closure member i3 from port closing position, it is necessary to overcome area equal in extent to the area of the port I2.

Since in certain types of valves, the force available for this purpose is very small, means are provided whereby this force is exerted on the closure member I3 so that an eiective lever arm is formed to assist inthe initial opening or cracking movement of the closure member. This 'initial movement permits equalization of the pressures acting on the opposite sides of the closure member, after which less force is required to raise the member to full-1 open position. It is thus possible to control fairly high pressures with very small forces.

As a means of raising the closure member I3, an electromagnet I4 is provided in body I. Magnet Il is shown as comprising a central core I5 to the upper end of whichlis joined an outer shell or tube I6. The coil winding' I 1 is disposed in the annular space formedbetween corel I5 and shell It. Electromagnet I4 is accommodated in bore I8 provided in body -I and is supported therein by a screw I9 which threadedly engages the magnet structure and extends through the head 20 of body I, a suitable sealing washer 2| being provided under the head of the screw II to prevent leakage at this point. A number of Y shims 22 are provided between the. magnet and head 23, for a purpose to be presently described. To prevent the magnet structure I4 from turnins in the body I with screw I9, a pin 24 is provided in shell I3 and arranged 'to engage a slot face of magnet I4 and closure member I3 be quite small when the closure is seated in port closing position, since the available power of the electromagnet I4 is very limited. The magnet structure is therefore arranged to extend a substantial distance into inlet chamber 2. This clearance may be adjusted by varying the number and/or the thickness of shims 22, and is usually of the order of .015 inch.

It will be apparent that lupon energization of magnet I4, the closure member I3 will be attracted to it and open port I2. A number of fingers 30 are provided on partition 5 to limit lateral movement of member I3.

It is evident that member I3 must be liftedA against the force exerted by the pressure in inlet chamber 2 on member I3. Means are provided whereby the lifting force exerted by the magnet I4 uponthe member I3 is rendered suicient to cause an initial slight unseating of the member I3 which causes a reduction in the force exerted on the member by the controlled fluid, so that g f the member I3 may be readily lifted by the magnet. y

Thus port I2 through the partition 5 is oiI- set from the center of the magnet cture I4 and is provided with a narrow ann ar seat 3| upon which the member I3 rests when closing theport. Since member I3 is substantially coextensive with the tace of magnet I4, it follows that member I3 has an extension or elongation indicated by 32 at one side of seat 3|. Upon energization of magnet M, an equal or symmetrical upward force is exerted over the whole area oi member I3. Since the force opposing the upward movement in response to .the torce exertedby the magnet acts unsymmetrically on member I3 due to the o'set of port i2, the member i8 will be tilted on its seat, as shown in Fig. 3. This tilting occurs about a point on seat Si! which is at the left hand end thereof. According-ly thereis a leverage exerted upon member i3, at its right hand portion by the force of the electromagnet i4. There is thus a multiplication oi the magnetic force, suicient to crack the valve open against the inlet pressure operating over the area of the port l2.

This tilting may be relatively slight, but it providesa partial opening of port l2, which substantially reduces the force urging member E13 toward its seat, thus enabling the magnet Mi to lift the member entirely from its seat and into engagement with the face o the magnet.

To prevent the weight of the member i3 which urges the member against seat 3l and acts unetrically with respect thereto causing the member to tilt downward and partly open the valve in a manner simmer to that in which the magnetic force opens it, a number of pins or projections 33 are provided to support it. Since the lower surface of member i3 is a plane, the 75 tnps of pins 33 must lie in the plane of the seat 3 Although the seat 3I .and pins 33 are. shown as proiecting 4above .the surface of the partition A5,-and the lower surface of the closuremember I3 is shown as plane, it will be obvious that this arrangement could be interchanged without affecting the functioning of the valve. upper surface of partition could be nat, and a. seat and pins, similar respectively to 3| and 33 could be formed on the under side of disk I3. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4.

What is claimed is:

l. In a valve structure, a valve body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, as well as a port partition between said openings and having a port therethrough, said partition also having an annular valve seat around the opening and on the inlet sideof the body, said inlet side forming a chamber in communication with the inlet opening, an unattached valve closure member at least partly of magnetic material overlying said seat and urged toward its seated position -by the pressure of fluid in said chamber, said member having a portion substantially overlapping said seat so as to project considerably beyond said seat, andan electromagnet magnetically 'influencing said closuremember and producing a magnetic force operating upon said projecting portion, said force being asymmetric yvith respect to the port to cause said member to tilt upon the seat when the electromagnet is energized.

2. In a valve structure, a valve body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, as well as a partition between said openings, and having a port therethrough, said partition also having an annular valve seat around the opening and on the inlet side of the body, said inlet side forming a chamber in communication with the inlet opening, an unattached valve closure member at least partly oi magnetic material overlying said seat and urged toward its seated position by the pressure of fluid in said chamber, said member having a portion substantially overlapping said seat so as to project considerably beyond said seat, said member being substantially entirely clear of the partition except where the member contacts said seat, whereby the fluid pressure aiecting said member to urge the member against the seat is effective only over a limited portion of the area of the member, and an electromagnet producing a magnetic force, asymmetric with respect to the port,'to tilt said member upon the seat and operating on said projecting portion.

3. ln a valve structure, a valve body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, as well as a partition between said openings, said partition l having a port therethrough as well as a raised valve seat of limited area around said port, a freely tiltable unattached closure member at least partly of magnetic material on the inlet side of said partition, said member having a portion projecting beyond said seat, and an electromagnet magnetically influencing said projecting portion and producing a force asymmetrical with respect lto the port, to tilt said member upon said seat.

4. In a valve structure, a valve body having a partition forming an inlet chamber, there being an inlet opening to the chamber, as Well as an outlet opening, said partition being between said openings and having a port therethrough, as well as a raised valve seat on the inlet side of the partition, unattached closure member atleast partly Thus, the

of magnetic material urged toward the seat by the inlet pressure, and an electromagnet in the inlet chamber and having a Vpolar area asymmetric with respect to the port, for aecting the closure member to tilt said member upon said seat.

, 5. In a`valve structure, a valve body having a partition forming an inlet chamber, there being an inlet opening to the chamber, as well as an outlet opening, said partition being between said openings and having a port therethrough, as well as a raised valve seat on the inlet side of the partition, a closure member at least partly of magnetic material'urged toward the seat by the inlet pressure, said closure member being unconnected and being free to accommodate itself to the seat under the iniiuence of the iiuid pressure, means hunting transverse movement of said member with respect to the seat, and an electromagnet in said'inlet chamber for producing a magnet force asymmetric with respect to the port.

6. In a valve structure, a valve body having a partition forming an inlet chamber, there being an inlet opening to the chamber as well as an outlet opening, said partition being between said openings and having a port therethrough, as well as a raised valve seat on the inlet side ofy the partition, a closure member at least partly of magnetic material in the inlet chamber for cooperation with the seat. means for limiting transverse movement of the member with respect to its seat, said closure member being free to 'tilt on its seat, an electromagnet in said inlet chamber and having a magnetic frame forming polar areas having an axis displaced from the axis of the port, and operating to cause the closure member to tilt upon its seat.

7. In avalve structure, a valve body having openings and having a port therethrough,as well as a raised valve seat on the inlet side of the partition, a closure member at least partly oi magnetic material in the inlet chamber for cooperation with the seat, means for limiting transverse movement of the member with respect to its seat, said closure member being. free to tilt on its seat, said limiting means assuring an asymmetric position of the member with respect to the port, and an electromagnet in the inlet chamber and having a magnet frame forming polar areas for producing a magnetic force on the closure member in such manner as to cause r said member to vtilt oi its seat.

8. In a valve structure, a valve body having an inlet opening andan outlet opening, as well as a partition between said openings, and having a port therethrough, said partition also having an annular valve seat around the opening and on the inlet side of the body, said inlet side forming a chamber in communication with the inlet opening, a valve closure member at least partly of magnetic material overlying said seat and urged toward its seated position by the pressure of fluid in said chamber, said member having a portion substantially overlapping said seat so as to project considerably beyond said seat, said member being substantially entirely clear of the partition except where the member contacts said seat, whereby the fluid pressure affecting said member to urge the member against the seat is e'ective only over a limited portion of the area of the member, an electromagnet producing a magnetic force to tilt said member away from the seat and operating on said projecting portion. said force being asymmetric with relation to the port and a stop spaced from the seat for ensuring that the closure member will properly contact its seat under the iniiuence of the force .urg-

a partition forming an inlet chamber, there being 40 ing said member against the seat.

an inlet opening to the chamber as well as an' outlet opening, said partition being between said 4wrnnmivt A. RAY. 

